Conservation Biology and Legislation

A Little History…

• U.S. Lacey Act of 1900: prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have

been illegally taken, transported or sold.

• 1st federal law protecting wildlife

• Research an org. to find best way to protect the species and its

surrounding habitat.

Conservation Biology

In-Situ Conservation

• “In the field” conservation

• Done by protecting them in their habitat.

Ex-Situ Conservation

• “Out of the field” when few individs left

• Conserving/ helping the population repopulate in a lab, zoo, aquarium.

Bald Eagle Conservation

• 1963= 417 nesting pairs

• Loss of habitat, hunted, DDT

• Ex-Situ rehab.• Aug 8, 07: off End

Species List!

Seed Banks

• Ex-Situ: Saves plants from destruction• Cryogenically frozen for future• Stored in duplicate locations

Botanical Gardens

• Ex-Situ: Breed plants and educate

Aquariums: Ex-Situ

• Grow corals• Rehab injured animals

• Raising public awareness

Zoos: Ex-Situ

• Artificial Insemination• Embryo

Transfer• Education

• Audubon Society• American Cetacean Society

• National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Tree People

National Conservation Orgs

International Conservation Orgs• World

Conservation Union (IUCN)

• World Wildlife Fund

• Nature Conservancy: Buys land to establish reserves

• 1973 -illegal to import or trade products of E.S. unless used for science (USFWS)

• Species on list cannot be “taken”, threatened, killed, harmed: habitat can’t be harmed

• Decision must be made on biological basis

– Must develop a recovery plan– 1350 species listed (4000 candidates)

Problems w/ ESA• Encourages people to

destroy land before listing

• No focus on ecosystem• Is inflexible and

political• Focus on charismatic

megafauna• Only 8 species de

listed

International Laws

• CITES - Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species–Created by IUCN–Prohibits trade of live specimens or

products of 900 species on list

CITES

• Uses appendices for classification.

• Appendix 1: endangered.

• Appendix 2: threatened.

• An org. can be on both CITES and US ESA!

Squirrel Monkey: App II

Ring-Tailed Lemur: App I

IUCN’s Red List

• Assess conservation status of global species.

• Use Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable.

Common Hippo: Vulnerable

Angel Shark: Crit. Endang.

International Whaling Commission

• Regulates whaling• Bans on gill-netting, purse seines

• Japan/Finland/Iceland no sign!

Marine Mammal Protection Act

• 1972, All marine mammals are protected • Prohibits "take” of marine mammals in U.S.

waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas

How to Save End. Species

Establish parks, preserves and wilderness areas that are not

fragmented!

Enforce legislation such as US ESA and CITES.

Support $$ env. organizations.

How to Save End. Species

Control human population and consumption!

How to Save End. Species

• Restore damaged habitats

• Reforest

• Regulate private land use.

How to Save End. Species